Some notes on Clonmore manor in County Carlow

Some notes on Clonmore manor in County Carlow

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

Clonmore is a civil parish in the Barony of Rathvilly in north-east County Carlow. In medieval times the manor of Clonmore was centred in the parish. This article contains a few references to Clonmore manor that survive in the medieval documents.

Early Clonmore

In the time after the Norman invasion of 1169 Clonmore was situated within the cantred of Ofelmeth. Ofelmeth comprised the modern barony of Rathvilly in County Carlow and northern Shillelagh in County Wicklow.[1] The cantred of Ofelmeth was also known as the Barony of Tullowphelim and was given by King John before 1189 to Theobald Walter the first, ancestor of the Butlers, later Earls of Ormond. William Marshal, lord of Leinster, objected to Theobald Walter having Tullowphelim directly from the king and King Richard II agreed. But Prince John, who was then lord of Ireland, defended Theobald Walter and so Tullowphelim remain as held directly from the king.[2]  

In about 1300 the parish of Clonmore was valued at three marks and taxed at 4s.[3] Like many an Irish parish Clonmore had a medieval castle which was situated on the border country between the area controlled by the Normans and that controlled by the Irish. Thus control of the castle changed sides over time.

In 1303 John Wogan held Clonmore castle for Richard le Butler.[4] In about 1330 the castle was captured by the Irish. In 1332 Anthony de Lucy, justiciar of Ireland, led an army into Leinster and recaptured the castles of Clonmore and Arklow which were then in the hands of the Irish. Lysaght O’More of Leix (modern Laois) provided the largest number of troops to take Clonmore.[5] In Easter term 1332 William de Rupeforti was appointed constable of Clonmore castle was spent £20 on repairs to the castle. The government maintained control of Clonmore castle until the 1360s as it was an important defence to protect the English lordship of Carlow from the Irish of the Wicklow Mountains.[6]

Clonmore castle

Butler lands in County Carlow

As noted, the Butlers held the barony of Tullowphelim (Tullow), later called the barony of Rathvilly, since 1185. In 1408 James Butler, Earl of Ormond, sued for livery of his estates even though he was still a minor. His father, also called James Butler, 3^rd Earl of Ormond, died on 7^th September 1405. In 1408 or 1409 King Henry IV granted James Butler his ancient family lands. The castle, and manor of Tullow was then the only property of the Butlers recorded in County Carlow.[7] But the Tullow manor seems to have then included Clonmore which was later made into a separate manor.

Butler ownership of Clonmore

By 1538 the Earls of Ormond had increased and developed their property portfolio in County Carlow and Clonmore is mentioned as a separate manor, created out of the larger manor of Tullow. The late development of Clonmore is accounted for because Tullow and Clonmore was on the border between the English and Irish areas of influence. People generally don't like to live in a war zone. 

In 1538 King Henry VIII granted ancient property of the Butler family, Earls of Ormond, in the Counties of Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford, Kildare, Dublin, Meath and Carlow to Piers Butler, Earl of Ossory and Ormond. The Carlow property included the manors of Rathvilly (this manor was also created out of the larger manor of Tullow), Tullow, Kealasna (Kellistown), Powerstown, Leighlinbridge and Clonmore.[8] 

Clonmore parish (in red), in Rathvilly barony, Co. Carlow

On 1^st May 1571 Thomas Butler, 10^th Earl of Ormond, granted property in trust to William Johnson, dean of St. Canice’s, Kilkenny, John Archdeacon, treasurer of St. Patrick’s at Cashel, Richard Shee of Kilkenny and Edmund Fitz Theobald Butler of Callan to hold as part of the will of Earl Thomas and deliver to his successor. This grant included property in Counties Kilkenny, Waterford, Dublin, Tipperary, Meath, Kildare and Carlow. The Carlow property included the manors of Rathvilly, Clonmore, Tullow, Kallasne (Kellistown), Leighlinbridge, Powerstown (alias Ballynephoerye) and Ballynknockan (Ballyknockan, Idrone West barony).[9] 

The Earl of Ormond did not die until 1614 and by October 1593 Richard Shee was the last trustee alive. On 1^st October 1593 Richard Shee conveyed some of the property to William Fitz Robert Purcell of Kilkenny to hold thirty-seven in trust for the Earl of Ormond and his heirs.[10] By November 1598 it was decided to terminate the trust agreement of 1571 and on 6^th November 1598 Richard Shee conveyed all the property in the seven counties (including Clonmore) back to Thomas Butler, 10^th Earl of Ormond.[11]

On 22^nd February 1575 Thomas Butler, 10^th Earl of Ormond, made a lease of Clonmore manor, for twenty-one years, with Hugh Geankagh of Portrusshin (Portrushen, Barony of Rathvilly), Co. Carlow. The lease included the manor of Clonmore and the townlands of Ballyhacket, Ballynefonsiogy, Cowlemanny (Coolmanagh), Ballycullane (Ballykillane), Ballydowlin, Tierlere, Ballykyrryer, Killelongort (Killalongford), Ballynekilly (Ballynakill), Ballyduff, Crowanloghirry along with 8 acres of country measure of Ballyroyll with all the castles, meases, lands, etc. belonging to the townlands.[12] All these townlands were in the Barony of Rathvilly, Co. Carlow.

In a separate lease made in 1577 between Thomas, Earl of Ormond, and Shyman Fitzpatrick of Tullaghnemrahir (Tullow), Co. Carlow, the Earl reserved the town or village of Ballyroyll with the appurtenances.[13] The rent on the 1575 lease of Clonmore was 20 marks per year for the first two years and 40 marks yearly for the remaining nineteen years along with 10 poundage hogs, 10 summer sheep and 10 couple of watch hens with half of all heriots, strays and profits of the manorial court.[14]

On 20^th March 1600 Thomas Butler, 10^th Earl of Ormond, made an indenture with Captain Laurence Esmond to hold the manor and lordship of Arklow in County Carlow for thirty years. The modern county of Wicklow was not yet created by that time. Captain Esmond was to deliver the annual rent of £60 along with 12 barrels of herring (as often as the herring fishing happens in Arklow Harbour) to the Earl’s manor of Clonmore. The lease of Clonmore to Hugh Geankagh had ended in 1596. The Earl would pay 10s for each barrel.[15]

In October 1599 a large part of the estate of Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormond, was granted in trust o Robert Rothe of Kilkenny, Henry Shee, John Fitz Lewes of same and Richard Fitz Richard Comerford of Dangenmore. But John Horsfall, Bishop of Ossory, and Edward Gough, (former trustees of the Earl), claimed that Robert Rothe and associates unlawfully entered the County Carlow lands of the Earl. The objected went to court and was settled before the justices of the Common Bench at Dublin in Michaelmas 1599. The court found that Robert Rothe, Gerald Comerford, Henry Shee and Philip Comerford were the proper trustees of the Carlow lands which included the manors of Rathvilly, Tullow, Arklow and 6 castles, 1,000 messuages, 100 tofts, 4 mills, 100 gardens, 5,000 acres of land, 1,000 acres of meadow, 1,000 acres of wood and 4,000 acres of moor in Clonmore, Killasny, Powerstown, Arklow and Fortenolan.[16]  

In March 1602 the manor of Clonmore was included in the lands entailed to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormond, as her marriage portion and inheritance. Other places in Carlow forming part of the entailed included Rathvilly, Tullow, Arklow, Powerstown and Kilasny.[17]

Conclusion

The manor of Clonmore was in Butler ownership throughout the medieval period and into the seventeenth century as is show by this article. It is hoped to record more about Clonmore castle in a future article.

================

End of post

================

---

[1] Paul MacCotter, Medieval Ireland: Territorial, Political and Economic Divisions (Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2008), pp. 130, 261

[2] Eric St. John Brooks (ed.), Knight’s fees in Counties Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny (Stationery Office, Dublin, 1950), p. 79

[3] H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland (Kraus reprint, 1974), vol. V (1302-1307), p. 251

[4] Newport B. White (ed.), The Red Book of Ormond (Stationery Office, Dublin, 1932), p. 2

[5] Goddard Henry Orpen, Ireland under the Normans, 1169-1333 (Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2005), Vol. IV, p. 244

[6] Philomena Connolly (ed.), Irish Exchequer Payments, 1270-1446 (Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin, 1998), pp. 345, 523

[7] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds (6 vols. Stationery Office, Dublin, 1943), Vol. IV, pp. 177-8

[8] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds (6 vols. Stationery Office, Dublin, 1937), Vol. IV, p. 178

[9] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds (6 vols. Stationery Office, Dublin, 1941), Vol. V, p. 197

[10] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Vol. VI, p. 59

[11] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Vol. V, pp. 198-9

[12] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Vol. V, p. 261

[13] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Vol. V, p. 290

[14] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Vol. V, p. 261

[15] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Vol. VI, p. 9

[16] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Vol. VI, pp. 185, 194

[17] Edmund Curtis (ed.), Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Vol. VI, p. 163

The estate of Sir William Ryther of Yorkshire (1440)

The estate of Sir William Ryther of Yorkshire (1440)

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

Introduction

On 1^st October 1440 Sir William Ryther of Ryther in Yorkshire died. Sir William Ryther was the son of Sir William Ryther of Ryther and Sibyl his wife, daughter of William de Aldeburgh, 1^st Lord Aldeburgh. Although not a major landowner Sir William Ryther did have standing in his community and in 1426, 1430-1, 1434 and 1438 was sheriff of Yorkshire. Sir William Ryther was also a peer of the realm as Baron of Rither, a title created in 1299 for his ancestor Sir William de Ryther.[1] On 8^th October 1440 a writ was issued for an inquisition post mortem into the estate of Sir William Ryther in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.[2]

Ryther manor

The chief manor of the Ryther family in Yorkshire was that of Ryther. The family took their name from Ryther, about 6 miles N.E. of Selby, and were associated with the place since about 1166 if not before then. Several of the de Ryther knights have effigies in the local parish church of All Saints Church.[3]

In 1280 John son of Robert de Roos of Helmsley granted Ryther to William Ryther of Scarcroft in Yorkshire and Lucy his wife and the heirs of Lucy’s body. Lucy Ryther was the daughter of John de Roos.[4] This grant was made with reversion to John de Roos and then to his brother Alexander de Roos and then to the right heirs of William Ryther.[5] Although William Ryther was very much a Yorkshire landowner he did have connections beyond the Dales. In 1302 he was granted the Irish lands of Reginald de Dene until the lawful age of Reginald’s heir and with the marriage of the latter.[6]

The elder brother of John de Roos was William de Roos of Helmsley, first lord of that barony. William’s son, also called William de Roos, married Margery, daughter of Bartholomew de Badlesmere and in 1338 inherited her fourth share of the family estate which included a fourth part of Youghal and the manor of Inchiquin in County Cork, Ireland.[7]

All Saint's Church, Ryther by Bill Henderson

By 1440 the reversion provision had not yet been activated as Lucy gave birth to Robert Ryther who was the father of Robert Ryther, the father of Robert Ryther who was the father of William Ryther, father of William Ryther who died in 1440.[8]

This clear line of descent was not so straight in reality. The Robert de Ryther who died in 1322 left William de Ryther (aged 12 years in 1327) as his son and heir. In 1327 Robert de Ryther held the manor of Ryther of King Edward II in the honour of Pontefract because the late forfeiture of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, by the service of half a knight’s fee, and Robert de Ryther held Scarcroft manor of John de Ryther, his brother. The two manors were granted to Robert’s widow Maud until William de Ryther came of age.[9] But William de Ryther did not leave any issue and so the two manors passed to his brother Robert de Ryther.

The manor and advowsons of the churches (the parish church of Ryther and the chapel attached to Lead Hall) of Ryther in 1440 was held of the king in chief as of the Duchy of Lancaster and his honour of Pontefract by the service of one eight of a knight’s fee (a big reduction in the knight fee since 1327). The manor of Ryther was not in good condition according to the inquisition post mortem. The capital messuage and two gardens were worth nothing along with 8 waste messuages worth nothing and 8 waste cottages worth nothing. There was 460 acres of land worth 3d per acre; 40 acres of meadow worth 12d per acre and 200 acres of wood worth 100s. The total value of the manor was thus £12 15s per annum.[10]

Scarcroft manor

The most ancient property of Sir William Ryther was that of Scarcroft manor in Yorkshire. Modern Scarcroft is located about six miles N.E. of Leeds and has some of the most expensive residential property in Yorkshire.[11] In 1280 his ancestor, William Ryther, used Scarcroft as his chief address. In 1440 Scarcroft manor was held of Henry Vavasour by the service of one rose yearly. Like at Ryther, the manor of Scarcroft was not well cared for under Sir William Ryther. There were 4 waste messuages, 3 waste cottages and 20 acres of wood worth nothing per year. The rest of the manor consisted of 202 acres of land worth 3d per acre and 320 acres of moor land worth 10s per year. The total value of the manor was £3 6d per year.[12]

Harewood manor

The manors of Ryther and Scarcroft were part of the Ryther family since 1280 and for some time before. The other property held by Sir William Ryther in 1440 was acquired by marriage and purchase.

On 21^st October 1440 at Ozendyke a jury met to conduct the inquisition post mortem on the estate of Sir William Ryther and they found that he held half the manor of Harewood in Yorkshire by a grant made in 1403 to his father and mother by Thomas Thwaytes and William Barker. The manor as held by Sir William Ryther excluded the site of Harewood castle and other land and was held of the king in chief by a quarter of a knight’s fee. Within the half manor held by Sir William Ryther there was 45 acres in demesne land worth 4d per acre; 200 acres of land in a close called Stoktonfeld worth 4d per acre; 4 acres of land at Le Sandbed worth 4d per acre; 1,000 acres of moor and waste land held in common pasture at Harwodmore worth nothing per year; two burgages in the vill of Harewood worth 12d per year each; two cottages also worth 12d per year each; a smithy worth 12d yearly and half an oven in Harewood worth 12d per year.

Sir William Ryther also had property in the vill of Dunkeswick within the manor of Harewood. This consisted of 8 messuages worth nothing per year and 17 bovates each worth 4s per year. In the vill of Healthwaite there were 3 messuages each worth 6d per year and 4 bovates with meadow each worth 4s per year. In addition to all this Sir William Ryther collected 32s in service rent from the manor (total value £5 17s 6d). The total value of the half manor was £10 6s 6d.[13] in October 1439 William Ryther the younger was given seisin of Harewood manor following the death of his mother Sibyl Ryther.[14]

The other half of Harewood manor was held in 1426 by Sir Richard Redman and was succeeded by his grandson Richard Redman (son of Matthew Redman).[15] Sibyl Ryther was sister and co-heir of her brother William Aldeburgh, 2^nd Lord Aldeburgh. Her sister married into the Redman family and thus the manor of Harewood was divided between the two sisters.[16]

Kirkby Overblow manor

Sir William Ryther held half of this manor from Henry, Earl of Northumberland as of his manor of Spofforth. Modern Kirkby Overblow is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire between Harrogate and Wetherby. The manor of Kirkby Overblow came to William Ryther from the Aldeburgh inheritance.[17] In 1440 the manor was not in the best of condition with many parts of it described as ruinous including 7 ruinous messuages, 2 waste cottages and 30 acres of wood worth nothing. There was beside these ruinous property 14 bovates each worth 3s; 20 acres of land worth 3d per acre and 12s 8d in rent from the free tenants along with the rent of a pair of gloves.[18] This amounted to a total value of £2 19s 8d per annum.

All Saint's Church at Kirkby Overblow by Colin Hinson 

Celecotes manor

Sir William Ryther held one manor outside of Yorkshire, that of Celecotes in Lincolnshire. Celecotes is today known as Keal Cotes and is situated six miles south of Spilsby. The inquisition post mortem for Celecotes was held on 29^th October 1440 at Lincoln castle (25 miles to the west) before fourteen jurors. They found that Sir William Ryther held Celecotes in chief of the king by his Duchy of Lancaster and in the honour of Bolingbroke by the service of one sixth of a knight’s fee. On the manor the capital messuage was worth nothing, 100 acres of demesne land was worth 2d per acre; 12 messuages were worth 12d each; 10 bovates of land worth 3s each per year; 50 acres of meadow worth 8d per acre at moving time and 300 acres of pasture and marsh worth nothing along with 40s of assize rent.[19] The total value of the manor was £6 12s per year.

Successor and descendants of Sir William Ryther

Sir William Ryther of Ryther was married to Maud (deceased before 1437), daughter of Sir Thomas de Umframvill. Maud de Umframvill had three other sisters, all married.[20] She was the sister and co-heir of her brother, Sir Gilbert de Umframvill.[21] Sir William Ryther was succeeded in 1440 by his son and heir William Ryther, and then aged 35 years. Young William Ryther was described in 1437 as 30 years old.[22] William Ryther the younger was given seisin of his father’s lands in November 1440.[23]

The Barony of Rither fell into abeyance in 1543 with the death of Sir Henry Ryther but the family line continued through his second cousin William Ryther.[24] In the time of Queen Elizabeth a descendant of Sir William Ryther would enter the Church and move to Ireland. This was John Ryder, later Dean of St. Patrick’s in Dublin and Bishop of Killaloe. The descendants of John Ryder would also enter the Church in Ireland and hold positions in the Dioceses of Ossory, Killaloe and Cloyne. Their story is for another day.

===============

End of post

==============

---

[1] J.W.B Chapman & Mrs. Leighton (eds.), Calendar of inquisitions miscellaneous, Volume VIII, 1422-1485 (Boydell Press & National Archives, 2003), no. 50; George E. Cokayne (ed.), The Complete Peerage (Alan Sutton, Gloucester, 1987), vol. XI, p. 10

[2] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442 (Boydell Press & National Archives, 2009), no. 479

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryther_cum_Ossendyke accessed on 26 January 2016

[4] George E. Cokayne (ed.), The Complete Peerage, vol. XI, pp. 6, 8

[5] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442, no. 480

[6] H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland (5 vols. Kraus reprint, 1974), Vol. V, 1302-1307, Nos. 79, 163

[7] George E. Cokayne (ed.), The Complete Peerage, vol. XI, pp. 95-9

[8] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442, no. 480

[9] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume VII, Edward III (Kraus reprint, 1973), no. 7; George E. Cokayne (ed.), The Complete Peerage, vol. XI, p. 9

[10] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442, no. 480

[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarcroft accessed on 26 January 2016

[12] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442, no. 480

[13] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442, no. 480

[14] Calendar Fine Rolls, Vol. XVII, Henry VI (1437-1445), p. 124

[15] Kate Parkin (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXII, 1 to 5 Henry VI, 1422-1427 (Boydell Press & National Archives, 2003), no. 736

[16] G.E. Cokayne (ed.), The Complete Peerage, vol. XI, p. 10; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harewood_Castle

[17] Calendar Fine Rolls, Vol. XVII, Henry VI (1437-1445), p. 167

[18] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442, no. 480

[19] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442, no. 479

[20] M.L. Holford, S.A. Mileson, Claire Noble & Kate Parkin (eds.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXIV, 11 to 15 Henry VI, 1432-1437 (Boydell Press & National Archives, 2010), no. 696

[21] J.L. Kirby & Janet H. Stevenson (eds.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXI, 6 to 10 Henry V, 1418-1422 (Boydell Press & National Archives, 2002), no. 831; George E. Cokayne (ed.), The Complete Peerage, vol. XI, p. 10

[22] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of inquisitions post mortem, Volume XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442, no. 479

[23] Calendar Fine Rolls, Vol. XVII, Henry VI (1437-1445), pp. 167-9

[24] George E. Cokayne (ed.), The Complete Peerage, vol. XI, p. 11

The medieval Cambridge mill in Gloucestershire

The medieval Cambridge mill in Gloucestershire

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

The mill at Cambridge, on the River Cam, in the manor of Slimbridge in Gloucestershire, was much like a medieval mill in any other part of medieval England. A mill was an important source of revenue and most, though not all, manors had a mill. The tenants of the manor had to bring their grain to the manorial mill and the miller took part of the grain as his fee. As such the miller was one of the most important lay residents of a manor but not always the most popular. Manorial court records often mention complaints against the miller for the inexactness of his measures and the dishonesty of his fees.

Cambridge location map in Gloucestershire 

Cambridge is today a small hamlet about 3 miles from Dursley and about 11 miles from Gloucester and lies in the parish of Slimbridge. The medieval manor of Slimbridge, which included Cambridge, Gossington and Kingston, was granted to Maurice de Berkeley Fitz Harding by Roger de Berkeley of Dursley before 1190 on the marriage of Maurice and Roger’s daughter.[1] In 1281 Maurice de Berkeley, lord of Berkeley, held Slimbridge from Henry de Berkeley of Dursley by some unknown service as it was given in free marriage. The manor was then worth £20 per year.[2]

Although no specific references to the medieval mill at Cambridge appear to have survived, associated references do exist. In the time of King Edward the First, Thomas de Berkeley (d. 1321), lord of Berkeley, leased the house beside Cambridge mill, which was formerly held by Edith de Cambridge, to William Flerding for the lives of William, his first wife and their issue at a rent of 5s per year. This leased was witnessed by Robert de Bradeston, Thomas de Beoleye, Elias le Botiler, Richard le Due and John Halling; possibly all local people of the Cambridge area.[3]

River Cam in Gloucestershire 

On 22^nd July 1310 Thomas de Berkeley, lord of Berkeley, granted to William Flerdyng and Margaret his wife, the messuage, garden, curtilage and croft formerly held by Edith de Cambridge beside the mill. But Thomas de Berkeley reserved sufficient land to improve the millpond at Cambridge. William and Margaret Flerdyng also received pasture rights for forty sheep and one cow. This grant was for the lives of William, Margaret and their son, Peter, at an annual rent of 5s. The grant was given at Berkeley castle and witnessed by Thomas de Styntescombe, Robert de Bradeston, Thomas de Beoleye, William le Botiler and John le Duc.[4] Robert de Bradeston was alive from 1293 to at least 1310.[5]

In June 1313 John atte Yate of Slimbridge granted Thomas de Bekeley a rent seck of 8d from Joan, wife of Walter le Chepmon, for a messuage, curtilage and croft at Slimbridge along with the curtilage above the water running towards Cambridge mill and a croft called bokcroft.[6]

It was the obligation of all tenants to take their corn to the manorial mill and to no other mill. Sometimes a tenant would receive dispensation from the lord of the manor not to do suit at the manorial mill. On 4^th May 1318 Thomas de Berkeley remitted to William and Mabel atte Pulle their suit at the mills of Cam and Cambridge and to the two law-days at Cam each year in return for 12d a year paid to the manor of Hurste.[7]

After 1318 references to the mill disappear and even to Cambridge itself. In May 1439 Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, had two messuages and a half virgate of land at Cambridge, within the lordship of Coaley, worth 10s and held by Thomas Willies; a messuage and fardel of land and meadow, worth 4s, and held by John Willies; and a messuage and three acres of land with meadow, worth 4s, and held by John Maiowe. Al the property held by Richard Beauchamp at Cambridge was not held of the king but of whom the jury did not know.[8]

TYC Motors on site of 19th century mill and possible medieval mill site

Yet the tradition of milling at Cambridge continued over the centuries. In the 1830s a wire mill operated at Cambridge in the area of the present Cambridge Mill Industrial Estate.[9] The exact location of the medieval mill at Cambridge is unknown to this author but based on evidence from other locations, the medieval mill was in the area, if not in the exact spot, of later mills in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Pre 1850 Joseph and Jonah Hadley operated small water-powered mills at Cambridge and Berkeley before they moved to Gloucester Docks where they operated a steam-powered mill.[10] Today places such as the Cambridge Mills Industrial Estate and Cambridge Mill House keep the memory of milling alive in this rural Gloucestershire community.

===============

End of post

=================

---

[1] Bridget Wells-Furby (ed.), A catalogue of the medieval muniments at Berkley Castle (2 vols. Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, 2004), vol. 1, p. 271

[2] Sidney J. Madge (ed.), Abstracts of inquisitions post mortem for Gloucestershire, part IV, 20 Henry III to 29 Edward I, 1236-1300 (British Record Society, 1903), p. 118

[3] Bridget Wells-Furby (ed.), A catalogue of the medieval muniments at Berkley Castle, vol. 1, p. 290

[4] Bridget Wells-Furby (ed.), A catalogue of the medieval muniments at Berkley Castle, vol. 1, p. 290

[5] Bridget Wells-Furby (ed.), A catalogue of the medieval muniments at Berkley Castle, vol. 1, pp. 163, 290

[6] Bridget Wells-Furby (ed.), A catalogue of the medieval muniments at Berkley Castle, vol. 1, p. 282

[7] Bridget Wells-Furby (ed.), A catalogue of the medieval muniments at Berkley Castle, vol. 1, p. 268

[8] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442 (Boydell, 2009), no. 286

[9] http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/series?xCenter=3178832&yCenter=2840116.9311828&scale=63360&viewScale=11338.5888&mapLayer=nineteenth&subLayer=first_edition&title=Ordnance%20Survey%20and%20Ordnance%20Survey%20of%20Scotland%20First%20Series&download=true

[10] http://www.gsia.org.uk/reprints/2003/gi200365.pdf accessed on 19 January 2016